Lawrence officials again debate tax cut

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County Commissioner Ed Fosnaught reiterated his desire to revamp the 2007 county budget and look for a tax cut, but at least one fellow commissioner has turned a deaf ear.
Commissioner Steve Craig said they have been working on the 2007 budget since September and questioned why Fosnaught waited until now to propose a property tax cut. Commissioners plan to vote on the budget Thursday.
Commissioner Dan Vogler was in Harrisburg on Thursday and did not attend the caucus meeting. On Tuesday, however, Vogler said he believed the current budget was a good one.
Fosnaught, at that same meeting, said he believed commissioners could cut property taxes by 5 percent by taking money garnered from the sale of Hill View Manor and interest from bond refinancing. Craig said that money is part of the county's capital fund and he wants to keep it in reserve for capital expenses.